The Nebraska women's gymnastics team will host five home meets this season.

Photo Courtesy BreAnna Haessler/NU Media Relations

Courtesy: NU Media Relations

10/02/2013

Lincoln NE.—Head Coach Dan Kendig and the Nebraska women’s gymnastics team announced the Huskers’ 2014 schedule of meets on Wednesday. The Huskers’ schedule includes 10 teams that finished last season ranked inside the top 25 nationally, with four of those teams inside the top 10.

Head Coach Dan Kendig is excited for this season to start, "I think we have a very competitive schedule, from top to bottom, conference and non-conference. A good amount of the teams went to Nationals last year, so we are looking forward to our season."

The two-time defending Big Ten Champions will look to gain momentum for their third title in the regular season matches, as they will face all seven of their league opponents throughout their 2014 season. The Big Red will welcome Minnesota and Michigan to the Bob Devaney Sports Center, while hitting the road to face Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Illinois, and Ohio State.

Nebraska will take on national powerhouse Alabama at only the second meet of the season on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. in Knoxville, Tenn. The Crimson Tide, who came in third last year at the National Championships and has consistently placed in the top 10 for over 25 years will be great competition for the Huskers. They will also face other non-conference opponents in their 2014 season including Kentucky, Oregon State, Arizona State, and Arkansas who all placed in the top 25 last season.

In five home competitions at the newly renovated Bob Devaney Sports Center, the Huskers will feature one Sunday afternoon meet, the Masters Classic on Sunday Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. against Kentucky, Wisconsin-Stout and Bridgeport.

"Our Masters Classic, brings back one of our former assistant coaches Tim Garrison who is the head coach at Kentucky." Kendig said, "And Wisconsin-Stout has Jessie DeZiel's sister on the team who is a senior this year, so that should be a fun meet."

To open the season, NU will host Northern Illinois for the Beauty and the Beast joined meet with wrestling on Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. inside the Devaney Center before traveling to Knoxville Tenn. for the Ozone Collegiate Gymnastics Classic against Alabama and Kentucky on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. They will stay on the road to face Iowa on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m., until they return home for competition with Minnesota on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at Devaney.

After journeying to Penn State for a double duel on Feb. 8 the Huskers head back to Lincoln for two straight home competitions, against Big Ten rival Michigan team on Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. and the following Sunday for the Masters Classic.

The Huskers will head to Corvallis, Oregon to challenge Oregon State, and Arizona State on March 1 at 6 p.m. NU will head home to host its final home meet of the season on Saturday March 8 competing against Arkansas at 6 p.m. This meet will also serve as Senior Night for the Huskers to honor our two seniors Emily Wong, and Jamie Schlepenbach.

Before heading to the Big Ten Championship meet, Nebraska will face three of their conference opponents, Michigan State, Illinois, and Ohio State at East Lansing Mich. on March 15 at 2 p.m.

The annual conference meet, which Nebraska has won 14 of the last 20 conference championships is on March 22 at Penn State. Then followed by the NCAA Regional on April 5 and the 2014 NCAA Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 18-20.

The 2014 Huskers will return three All-Americans to this year's squad. Seniors Emily Wong, Jamie Schleppenbach and Junior Jessie DeZiel will help lead Nebraska as the team vies for its third consecutive Big Ten Championship and makes a run at the NCAA Championships in April.

"We cannot wait to start competing in the newly renovated Devany Center, and we can't wait to have the community come out and support our team in such a great atmosphere," Kendig said.